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Mark Cantrell

Citizen Zero

Synopsis

Inspired Quill presents an exciting new edition of CITIZEN ZERO, a science fiction thriller in the dystopian tradition...
“Those people are no-hopers.”
“And what does that make me?”
In a bitterly divided nation where security trumps civil liberty, unemployed David is on the verge of sinking into the ‘Zeros’ – a destitute underclass numbering millions. But then JobNet's advanced virtual reality world offers him a gateway to a worthwhile future, and a chance to rejoin society.
But David is an unwitting pawn in a deadly conspiracy to topple the Government: he's the ideal carrier for an intelligent virus designed to shatter the system and set the Zeros free.
When the virus activates, chaos ensues and the Zeros rise. David is left trapped inside a corrupted reality. If it doesn't shatter his sanity, the secret he finds there will change everything...
Sometimes even a pawn can hold the balance of power.

Author Biography

Mark Cantrell is one of those curious creatures that likes to live by the word. Well, it's better than living by the sword because everyone knows how that ends. Born and bred in Bradford, West Yorkshire, he now lives in Stoke-on-Trent, making him something of a Tyke in exile. Mark is the author of two novels -- Citizen Zero (2017) and Silas Morlock (2013) -- both published by indie press Inspired Quill.

Author Insight

Shades of Mark Kenndy...

Whether PC Mark Kennedy was operating undercover as an officially-sanctioned agent provocateur, or just went rogue, is neither here nor there for CITIZEN ZERO, but he provides a convenient contemporary vignette to pin to this extract.
In my novel, the undercover activities of the secret state run deeper, far darker, and are far more routine. Operatives, such as Frank depicted here, run deep cover operations organising crime, stoking terrorist acts and groups, assisting the operation of dissenting political organisations, as much as they seek to curtail their activities.
It’s a fine balance, with the agents of the secret state serving almost as ‘gardeners of criminality’, all to nurture an environment of fear among the populace that makes them easier to control.
Living in fear, the citizens have surrendered their civil liberties to the protection of this security state. Over the years, it’s kept the Prime Minister securely in power.

Book Excerpt

Citizen Zero

Police dragged the bodies of his
former comrades towards the shattered doors. There, they bundled
them into an untidy pile. The freak looked around with a satisfied
air, ignoring the dark looks the two of them received from the
police.

"You performed good work,
Frank," the freak said, pointing with his left hand, thereby
identifying himself as Shreck. "Getting their leaders all together
like this. Saved us a fortune in separate operations. Chief will be
pleased. So will Father."

Frank only grunted a reply and
fumbled for his cigarettes. Movement in the corner of his eye made
him look up. At the same instant a machine pistol slammed into his
solar plexus.

"You Agency bastards!" An impact
smashed into his unprotected back. "You were supposed to use
blanks!"

"Fuck... you," he managed to
gasp. The cop's eyes bulged and he prepared to smash his weapon
into Frank's face. Shreck caught the weapon before it could connect
and looked calmly at the cop.

"We required a lamented hero for
the media, Commander," he said smoothly. "Be grateful it was only
one."